<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b><br>
CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Comments on
Foundation Fighting Blindness #HowEyeSeeIt Campaign<br><br>
</b></div><b>
Baltimore, Maryland (September 26, 2016)</b>: The National Federation of
the Blind commented today on the #HowEyeSeeIt challenge launched in
the past month by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which has garnered
considerable recent publicity. The NFB has also delivered
<a href="http://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5889&qid=1392463">
a letter</a> to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and NFB members are
using the #HowEyeSeeIt hash tag to counter the campaign via social
media.<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "The National Federation of the Blind is deeply concerned that
the #HowEyeSeeIt challenge, as currently structured, will do lasting harm
to the ability of millions of blind Americans to live the lives we want.
In encouraging people who are not blind to don blindfolds and make videos
of themselves attempting everyday tasks, this campaign perpetuates the
fears, misconceptions, and low expectations that society has about
blindness by giving those who take the challenge or view the videos an
inaccurate understanding of the lived experience of blind people. In
particular, suggesting that it is difficult or impossible for blind
parents to care for their children is false and irresponsible. As a blind
father of three children who also happens to be married to a blind
person, I can say unequivocally that, with nonvisual techniques, we can,
and do, capably parent thriving children every day. Yet children have
been removed from the custody of blind parents solely because of
misconceptions about their ability to care for them, without any actual
proof of abuse or neglect, and the #HowEyeSeeIt campaign threatens to
worsen this already grave problem. This is only one example of how this
campaign will harm the chances of blind people, including board members
and supporters of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, to live productive
and happy lives.<br><br>
"To be clear, we have no quarrel with the Foundation Fighting
Blindness or the medical research that it seeks to fund. However, we
believe that this particular method of gathering support will harm the
very people whom the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the National
Federation of the Blind, in different but complementary ways, seek to
help. I and other members of the National Federation of the Blind have
told the Foundation Fighting Blindness that the perpetuation of
misconceptions about, and by extension discrimination against, the blind
is unacceptable, but so far we have been ignored. We therefore demand
that the Foundation Fighting Blindness stop filling its coffers by
spreading misconceptions and jeopardizing the dreams and aspirations of
blind people."<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br><br>
</b></div>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
200 East Wells Street<br>
at Jernigan Place<br>
Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
United States<br>
(410) 659-9314 <br>
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